English Writing – Intent Statement

At Leigh St Mary’s we strive to create writers who craft sentences with accuracy, fluency and flair. We understand that there are essential characteristics that writers demonstrate. The intent of the English writing curriculum from Early Years to Year 6 is to build these characteristics within our pupils.

The essential characteristics of writers are:

• The ability to write fluently and with interesting detail on a number of topics throughout the curriculum.

• A vivid imagination which makes readers engage with and enjoy their writing.

• A highly developed vocabulary and an excellent knowledge of grammatical accuracy and writing techniques to extend details and description.

• Well-organised and structured writing, which includes a variety of sentence structures.

• An impressive knowledge and understanding of other artists, craft makers and designers.

• Excellent transcription skills that ensure writing is well-presented, neat, accurately punctuated and spelled correctly.

• A love of writing and an appreciation of its educational, cultural and entertainment values.

(The Essentials Curriculum, Chris Quigley Education)

English Writing – Implementation 

At Leigh St Mary’s we use a bespoke Writing Pathway created by and for the school. This is a research-based scheme written using Sounds Write, the principles of The Writing Revolution by Judith C. Hochman and Natalie Wexter, The Write Stuff by Jane Considine, Talk for Writing by Pie Corbett, Closing the Writing Gap by Alex Quigley and ongoing research by the Education Endowment Foundation. This is complemented by our English writing skills progression map; our English writing curriculum is designed to teach accuracy in terms of phonic knowledge via Sounds Write, to teach accuracy in spelling and grammar, to teach the skills to write confidently and fluently and to provide a diet of high-quality books and opportunities that inspire pupils to write with imagination and flair. The writing progression of skills map is designed with five strands that run throughout. These are:

Sounds Write phonics and further spelling skills

Accuracy of grammar, punctuation and knowledge of writing terminology Transcription, handwriting and presentation

Writing with an awareness of audience, purpose, structure and register

Planning, writing, proof-reading, editing and performing

The English Writing Pathway and writing progression of skills at Leigh St Mary’s is sequential, allowing children to build their skills and knowledge, applying them to a range of writing outcomes. A variety of writing genres are woven throughout the teaching sequence. Sentence crafting skills are embedded by re-visiting key writing skills over time within and between year groups. This allows pupils to revise and build on their previous learning. The types of writing outcomes are (but not limited to!): Narrative; story, diary entry, letter, alternative viewpoints/perspectives Non-fiction; labels, lists, instructions, fact files, persuasive writing Poetry; riddles, verse, haiku, shape poems